Fountain pen check protector



Jan. 16, 1934. c. D. WESTON 1,943,404

' FOUNTAIN PEN CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 28, 1933 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 FOUNTAIN PEN CHECK PROTECTOR Carl D. Weston, Glendale, Jaiii. Application February 28, 1933. Serial No. 658.9%

(Cl. Mil-26) 3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a check protector and more particularly to a check protector that is associated with and forms a part of a fountain pen or pencil having projectable leads and the principal object of my invention is, to provide a relatively simple, practical and efficient check protector of compact structure and which includes a fixed and movable jaw and both jaws being provided with pointed projections or prongs that perforate that portion of the check that is inserted between the jaws and consequently preventing the perforated portion of the check or other commercial paper from being changed or altered so as to raise the amount of the check or change the signature thereon.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide simple and efficient means for firmly holding the hinged or swinging member of the check protector in closed position while not in use and I while the pin is being carried in the pocket and further, to provide simple and eflicient means whereby the hinge or swinging jaw may be readily opened in order to permit the insertion of a check or other commercial paper into position between the fixed and movable jaws.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a fountain pen that is equipped with my improved check protector.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged lon itudinal section taken through the end of a fountain pen that is equipped with the check protector.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a check protector constructed in accordance with my invention and which may be used as a watch charm or carried upon a key ring or the like.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the plates that are carried by the fixed and movable jaws of the protector and which plates carry the check perforating prongs.

Fig. 6 is an edge view partly in section of the plates that carry the check perforating prongs.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line "!7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. and sh owing a modified form of the means utilized for retaining the swinging or pivoted jaw in position against the fixed jaw.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the fixed jaw of the device and showing a portion of the hinged or pivoted jaw retaining means.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the spring that is utilized in the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a portion of a fountain pen that is provided with the modified form of hinged jaw retaining means.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention. 10 designates the body of an ordinary fountain pen, which body may be formed of any suitable material such as hard rubber, celluloid or light weight metal such as aluminum and formed in the intermediate portion of said body is a chamber 11 for the reception of the usual flexible ink containing sack or receptacle.

In order to accommodate my improved check protector, approximately one-half or" the body of the pin to the rear or above the chamber 11 is cut away, thereby leaving a portion 12 that constitutes the fixed jaw of the check protector and occupying the space that was cut away immediately in front of said fixed jaw is a complementary member 13 of the same material, of which the pen body is formed and this member 13 constitutes the hinged or pivoted jaw of the check protector.

Imbedded in the face of the fixed jaw 11, is a thin plate 14 of metal, the lower end of which is bent outwardly at an angle of approximately forty or forty-five degrees and formed in said outwardly bent lower portion is a transverse slot 15. That portion of the outwardly bent lower end just below the slot is made round in cross section, as designated by 16, in order to form a bearing and axis for the hinged or pivoted jaw of the protector.

Formed through plate 14 and disposed in spaced relation, are apertures 1'7 and projecting ou wardly from the face of said plate between said apertures, are small pointed prongs 18.

Imbedded in the inner flat face of jaw 13, is a thin metal plate 19 that is substantially a counter part of plate 14 and formed on the lower end of said plate 19, is a hook 29 that passes through the slot or aperture 15 and partially encircles the bearing 16. j r

The upper rear portion of hook 20 is provided with an inclined face 21, which when the hinged jaw of the protector is swung outward to its limit 110 of movement, engages an inclined face 22 that is formed at the upper end of slot 15 in plate 14 (see Fig. 6).

Formed through plate 19, is a series of apertures 23 that are located and spaced so as to re ceive the pointed pins or prongs 19 when the hinged jaw is closed and seated in and projecting from the face of plate 19 are pointed pins or prongs 24 that are adapted to enter the apertures 17 in plate 14 when the hinged jaw is closed.

Formed in the lower outer face of the jaw 13 is a short vertically disposed slot 25 and encircling the lower portion of said jaw 13 and passing partially around the fixed jaw 12, is an open ring or band 26 of resilient metal which fits snugly against the surfaces of said members 12 and 13 and at the same time said open ring is free to slide longitudinally on said parts for a distance approximately equal to the length of slot 25.

Projecting inwardly from the open ring or band 26, is a short pin or stud 27 that extends into slot 25.

To hold the movable jaw of the protector in closed position while the pen is carried in the pocket or being used for writing, the open ring or band 26 occupies a position so that the stud 27 is at the upper end of slot 25, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and when so positioned the swinging jaw is closed against the fixed jaw and the band or ring retains its position due to its resiliency and the fact that it closely hugs the surfaces of the fixed and movable jaws.

To open the movable jaw for the purpose of perforating a check or other commercial paper, ring or band 26 is engaged and moved downwardly and when stud 27 engages the lower end of slot 26, the pressure of said stud on the movable jaw below said slot, will swing said jaw upon its axis and the upper portion thereof will move outwardly away from the fixed jaw to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The outward movement of the swinging jaw is limited by the engagement of the inclined face 21 against inclined face 22.

The check or other commercial paper to be protected is now inserted between the jaws and pressure is applied to the movable jaw to move the same against the fixed jaw and the pins or prongs 18 and 24 will puncture that portion of the paper bearing the written amount for which the check is drawn or the signature on the check and thereby performing the desired results.

Movement of the open ring or band 26 upwardly effects the closing of the swinging or pivoted jaw.

In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form of the means for holding the swinging jaw in closed position and such means includes a keeper formed of small resilient wire bent into the shape as illustrated in Fig. 10. This keeper, when properly shaped, comprises a pair of parallel legs 28, the lower ends of which are connected by a horizontally disposed U- shaped member 29, which passes through a pair of apertures 30 that are formed in the plate 31 that is imbedded in the fixed jaw of the device and the upper ends of the same legs 28 terminate in horizontally disposed L-shaped hooks 32 that pass through apertures 33 that are formed in plate 31.

When the keeper is properly positioned on the plate 31, the parallel legs 28: lie against the outer face of said plate and when the swinging jaw is closed against the fixed jaw, said parallel legs engage in notches 34 that are formed in the sides of a pair of the pins that project from the metal plate that is imbedded in the swinging jaw in order to facilitate the opening of the swinging jaw that is maintained in closed position by the modified form of keeper just described, the upper inner corners of the two jaws of the device may be slightly beveled or rounded, as designated by 35 Fig. 11, to permit the insertion of the thumb or finger nail that is used in opening the swinging jaw.

in some instances it may be found desirable to form in the outer face of the lower portion of the swinging jaw a notch or recess such as 36 against which the thumb or finger nail is engaged to open said swinging jaw.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the check protecting device formed in a separate unit and provided at one end with a ring 37 so that it may be conveniently suspended from a watch chain or carried on a key ring.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a check protector that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The protector when combined with a fountain pen does not increase the size of the latter and the combination of the two devices affords the owner and user of the pin the convenience of a check or commercial paper protecting device.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved fountain pen check protector may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A check protector, comprising a pair of com- :lementary members, a hinge connecting said members adjacent to one end, prongs projecting from the inner face of each member, each member being provided with recesses for the accommodation of said prongs when said members are closed against e ch other, a spring seated in one member and having a portion overlying the face thereof and one of the prongs on the other memher being notched for the reception of the overlying portion of said spring when said members are closed against each other.

2. In a check protector, a pair of members, a hinge connecting said members adjacent to one end, means on said hinge for limiting its open movement, prongs projecting from the inner face of each member, recesses formed in each memher for the accommodation of said prongs when said members are closed, a spring seated in one of said members and having parallel portions overlying the face of the member in which it is seated and a pair of the prongs on the other member having recesses for the reception of the parallel portions of said springs when said members are closed against each other.

3. A check protector as set forth in claim 2, one of said members being provided with a slot adjacent to its hinged end, an open ring partially encircling said members and arranged to slide bodily thereupon and a stud projecting from said ring into said slot.

CARL D. WESTON. 

